JPH0481662B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a retractable chamber metering valve of the type in which an elastic sleeve overlaps a valve body and defines a retractable chamber therebetween. be.

[Problems to be solved by conventional technology and invention]

Existing valves of this type suffer from the problem that the complex shapes of the valve components required make them difficult to mold from plastic materials, and the large number of components required complicates the assembly process. be. Therefore, such valves were not economical to produce.

[Means for solving the problem and effects of the invention]

In accordance with the present invention, a collapsible chamber metering valve for use in a pressurized dispensing container is disclosed, the valve having a generally cylindrical body and coaxially overlying the body and intervening therebetween. a resilient sleeve defining a collapsible chamber and causing the body to define an inner chamber; passage means providing a fluid flow path between the inner chamber and the collapsible chamber; an axially slidable valve actuating rod extending axially through the inner chamber and operable between the actuating rod and the body at an outer end of the inner chamber to direct fluid to the inner chamber in the open position of the valve; outlet valve means dispensing from the chamber and inlet valve means operable between the body and the actuating rod at the inner end of the inner chamber to permit fluid to flow into the inner chamber in the closed position of the valve. , the inlet valve means includes an annular sealing portion of the sleeve cooperating with an inner end portion of the actuating rod extending therethrough, and the sleeve further telescopically receives the inner end of the body. an annular shoulder portion, the shoulder portion and the seal portion being integrally formed of relatively thick and thin material, respectively, such that the shoulder portion and the seal portion are respectively rigid and flexible; The sleeve is securely positioned on the valve body and the sealing portion is deformable.

(The terms inside and outside are used unless otherwise specified.
It is used to refer to the axial direction inwardly or outwardly, respectively, with respect to the container. ) The advantage of such a construction is that the sleeve and the sealing part are formed in one piece, thereby reducing the number of components. Additionally, the flexibility of the seal portion eliminates the need for tight manufacturing tolerances regarding the relative position of the valve stem and seal portion. Yet another advantage is that the stiffness of the shoulder portion and the manner in which it is securely positioned in a resting position on the body allows the flexible sealing portion to be connected to the relatively flexible side walls defining the collapsible chamber. This means that a high degree of isolation can be achieved between them. These side walls, shoulder portions and sealing portions can thus be formed integrally without any obstructions affecting the operation of the inlet valve means and the collapsible chamber. Yet another advantage is that
The sleeve can be easily formed in one simple operation.

Preferably, the seal further includes a radially outwardly extending annular flange at its outer axial end, which flange in use provides a sealing gasket between the similarly extending flange of the body and the rim of the container. Let it bring you.

An advantage of such a construction is that it eliminates the need for a separate gasket element. This construction also allows the sleeve, body, and container rim to be nested and connected together by the addition of a beveled valve ferrule to form a fluid-tight seal between the body and the container rim. This makes assembly easy.

Preferably, the passage means comprises a groove in the body extending axially from an inner end of the body to communicate with the collapsible chamber, and at least an inner end portion of the groove extends radially into the inner chamber. A flow path is provided between the collapsible chamber and a location in this inner chamber proximate to the inlet valve means.

The advantage of such a groove is that the resulting flow path allows the passage of the retractable chamber through the inlet valve means and into the retractable chamber when the valve is in its closed position. This means that it can be refilled with direct inflow fluid. This construction is conventional in that the refill flow path employs an indirect passage from the inlet valve means along the length of the inner chamber and then through an inlet into the collapsible chamber. It is distinguished from structure. The invention thereby allows for faster refilling of the collapsible chamber. Yet another advantage is that the groove is easily formed as a feature of the body since it does not require the use of radially moving forming tools.

Preferably, the sealing portion of the sleeve comprises a tubular projection having a radially inwardly directed annular rib of partially circular cross section.

The advantage of this rib is that the friction between the sealing part and the valve stem is reduced and therefore the operation is smoother.

EXAMPLES Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The valve of FIG. 1 is shown in combination with a pressurized dispensing container 2 having a cylindrical container body 3. The valve of FIG. The valve 1 is connected to the container body 3 by a valve ferrule 5 with a bent edge.
is held in place on the edge 4 of.

The valve rod 6 has an outer end 7 that projects outwardly from the valve 1 with respect to the container body 3, and an inner end portion 8 that projects inwardly from the valve 1 with respect to the container 2. 6 has a generally cylindrical body 9 defining an axis of symmetry 10 which is slidable back and forth.

The valve body 9 has an outer surface 11 which is stepped in diameter so that its dimension gradually decreases in an axial direction inward to the container 2 . A generally tubular elastic sleeve 12 having a tubular side wall 38 coaxially overlies the body 9 . The sleeve 12 fits sealingly around the outer end 13 of the body 9.

An annular shoulder portion 16 of the sleeve 12 is formed by thickening the sleeve material at the inner end 17 of the sidewall 38 such that the shoulder portion extends radially inwardly relative to the axis 10 and meets the inner end 15 of the body. I try to stay in touch. The outer surface 11 has a stepped tapered shape, so that the annular chamber 14 is connected to the sleeve 12.
and an intermediate outer surface of the outer end 13 and inner end 15 of the body. The shoulder portion 16 is shaped to telescopically receive the inner end 15 of the body and thus securely positions the sleeve 12 in coaxial alignment with the body 9.

The annular chamber 14 is therefore closed off to the container 2 at its innermost end by an annular shoulder 16 .

An inner chamber 18 is defined inside the body 9 and extends axially from an outlet opening 19 and an inlet opening 20 through which the outer end 7 of the valve stem extends and through which the outer end 7 of the valve stem extends. An inner end portion 8 of the inner end portion 8 extends.
The outlet valve means 33 provide an outlet opening by means of a radially outwardly projecting annular flange 22 of the valve stem 6 cooperating with an annular resilient seal 23 held in sealing contact with the body 9 by the valve ferrule 5. It is formed in the opening 19. A radially extending hole 24 in the valve stem communicates with an axially extending outlet passage 25 in the valve stem, which hole 24 is connected to the inner chamber 18 in the closed state of the valve 1 shown in FIG. Located on the outside, the position of the valve stem is such that this hole 24 is covered by the seal 23. This seal 23 not only prevents fluid from leaking from the inner chamber 18 around the valve stem 6, but also prevents the hole 24 from communicating directly with the atmosphere. This prevents any degradation of product fluid trapped within the valve stem 6 when the opening is not in use, and also prevents product fluid from leaking or draining from the valve stem to the outside of the ferrule 5. The valve stem 6 is biased outwardly by a helical spring 26 held in compression between the valve stem flange 22 and a shoulder 27 formed in the inner chamber 18.

The inlet valve means 21 comprises a tubular extension 28 of the sleeve 12 having a radially inwardly projecting rib 29 dimensioned to fit sealingly around the valve stem 6. The inner end portion 8 of the valve stem 6 is reduced in diameter so that an annular opening 30 is formed between the valve stem 6 and the rib 29 when the valve 1 is in the closed condition as shown in FIG. The inlet valve means 21 is therefore in an open state).

An axially extending groove 31 is formed in the inner end 15 of the body 9 such that the groove extends axially to a greater length than the annular shoulder portion 16 of the sleeve and communicates with the annular chamber 14. There is. The groove 31 has a radially extending inner end portion 32 in communication with the inner chamber 18 at a location proximate the inlet valve means 21 . Although the inner chamber 18 has a reduced diameter in this position, an axially extending spacer rib 34 is provided inside the inner chamber 18 to maintain a radius between the valve stem 6 and the wall of the inner chamber. protrudes inward. This spacer rib 34 also serves to hold the valve stem 6 in alignment with the axis 10.

The sleeve 12 has at its outer end 35 a radially outwardly extending annular flange 36 which provides gasket means between a radially outwardly extending flange 37 of the body 9 and the rim 4 of the container 2. Acts as a. Cylindrical side wall 3 of sleeve 12
8 extends between the flange 36 and the shoulder portion 16. The extension 28 with the flange 36, sidewall 38, shoulder 16 and rib 29 are all integrally formed of a resilient material of natural or synthetic rubber or thermoplastic elastomer. The radial thickness of the shoulder 16 is 1.4 mm thick compared to the very thin thickness of the extension 28 of 0.5 mm. As a result, shoulder 1
6 is relatively stiff, whereas extension 28 is relatively flexible. Rib 29 is 0.54mm from extension 28
only protrudes radially inward. The radial thickness of side wall 38 is 0.55 mm, so it is relatively flexible. This flexibility allows the annular chamber 14 to collapse by radially inward deformation of the side walls 38. The ribs 29 have a semicircular cross-section and, in their relaxed state, have an inner diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the valve stem 6 and slightly larger than the diameter of the inner end portion 8.

FIG. 2 shows the valve in the open condition, in which the valve stem 6 is lowered inwardly relative to the container 2, thereby opening the hole 24 to the inner chamber 18 and opening the outlet valve means 33. It is becoming more and more common. In this state, the lowered valve rod 6 is attached to the extension part 28
is in sealing contact with the rib 29 of the inlet means 21, thereby closing the inlet means 21. The valve rod can pass through the rib 29 because the extension 28 is elastically deformed.

In use, the container body 3 is filled with the pressurized fluid to be dispensed, and the inner chamber 18 and the annular chamber 14 are filled with fluid when the valve 1 is filled by the first filling stroke of the valve stem. Become.

When the valve stem 6 is pushed down inwardly relative to the container 2, thereby opening the valve 1, the inner chamber 18 communicates with atmospheric pressure and a flow of fluid occurs from the inner chamber through the hole 24; It becomes distributed through the outlet passage 25. This decrease in pressure in chamber 18 passes through groove 31 into annular chamber 14 so that a pressure difference is created across side wall 38 and side wall 3
8 collapses radially inwardly toward the body 9 as shown in FIG. 2, thereby displacing fluid from the annular chamber through the groove and into the inner chamber 18. An equilibrium state is reached in which the side wall 38 contacts the body 9, preventing its further deformation, and fluid flow stops. The valve stem is then released and returns to its normal position as shown in FIG. 1 under the pressure of the spring and is operated to close the outlet valve means 33 and open the inlet valve means 21. The sleeve sidewall 38 is then released to its cylindrical, undeformed shape and operates to create a suction force within the annular chamber 14. At the same time, a refill channel is provided from the interior of the container 2 through an annular opening 30 around the inner end portion 8 of the valve stem 6 and into the inner chamber 18 through a groove 31 in the vicinity of the inlet valve means 21. The annular chamber 14 is formed in communication so that the annular chamber 14 can be refilled with fluid. Equilibrium is reached where the pressure is equal on both sides of side wall 38 and refill flow ceases. The valve is prepared for subsequent actuation.

It has been found that during repeated actuations of valve 1, the amount of fluid dispensed with each actuation remains substantially constant.
By adjusting the dimensions of the annular chamber 14, the amount dispensed can be adjusted so that a predetermined metered dose is dispensed.

Alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated, in which the seal 23 of the outlet valve means 33 comprises two axially spaced valve seats integrally formed in the sealing element. It consists of a double sheet structure (not shown) that looks like this. Such a structure can further protect the product against contamination from outside.

This valve can be applied to pressurized dispensing vessels where actuation is required in any direction, since the metered dispensed volume is independent of the orientation of the valve. This valve is thus particularly suitable as a dispenser for the nasal administration of pharmaceutical products.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cutaway front view of the collapsible chamber metering valve in the closed position, and FIG. 2 is a similar view of the valve of FIG. 1 in the open position. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Valve, 2... Pressurized distribution container, 3... Container body, 4... Rim, 6... Valve operating rod, 8... Valve rod inner end portion, 9... Valve body, 12... Sleeve , 14
... Contractible chamber, 15 ... End part inside main body, 16 ...
shoulder portion, 18... inner chamber, 21... inlet valve means,
28... annular protrusion, 29... annular seal part, 3
1... Groove, 33... Outlet valve means, 36... Annular flange, 37... Flange.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A collapsible chamber metering valve for use in a pressurized dispensing container 2, comprising a generally cylindrical body 9 defining an inner chamber 18, and a body 9 coaxially overlapping with and between the body 9. an elastic sleeve 12 defining a collapsible chamber 14; passage means 31 providing a fluid flow path between said inner chamber and said collapsible chamber;
an axially slidable valve actuating rod extending coaxially through the inner chamber and operating between the rod and the body at the outer end of the inner chamber and displacing the valve from the inner chamber in the open position of the valve; Outlet valve means 3 for distributing fluid
3 and an inlet valve means 21 which operates between the body and the rod at the inner end of the inner chamber to allow fluid to enter the inner chamber in the closed position of the valve, the inlet valve means comprising: an annular sealing portion 29 of said sleeve cooperating with an inner end portion 8 of said rod extending through an annular sealing portion 29 of said sleeve; a shoulder portion 16, the shoulder portion and the seal portion being integrally formed of relatively thick and thin material, respectively, such that the shoulder portion and the seal portion are each relatively stiff and flexible; A retractable chamber metering valve characterized in that the sleeve is positively positioned on the valve body and the sealing portion is deformable. 2 an annular flange 3 at which said sleeve further extends radially outwardly at its outer axial end;
6, which flange in use provides sealing gasket means between the likewise extending flange 37 of the body and the rim 4 of the container.
The valve described in. 3. said passage means comprising a body groove 31 extending axially from said body inner end 15 and communicating with said collapsible chamber, at least an inner end portion of said groove extending radially into said inner chamber; one of said inner chambers extending in a direction adjacent said collapsible chamber and said inlet valve means;
3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve has a flow path between two positions. 4. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the sealing part of the sleeve comprises a tubular projection 28 with a radially inwardly directed annular rib 29 of partially circular cross section.